Automation Engineer
Automated Twin Revolves
Automated Twin Revolves
The design for this production of "Cabaret" called for a pair of revolving platform to rotate in opposition. In the closed position, red walls established the Kit Kat Klub, while the open position established the appartments of Cliff Bradshaw and Herr Schultz. Each revolve was constructed of a circular platform, siting on top of an MDF drive wheel which all of the rigging was attached to. The entire unit was powered by a Digital Wench Unit located under the small trap space under center stage, and was operated backstage.
In the closed position, the revolves literally set the stage for inside the Kit Kat Klub.
While it their open position, the revolves establish the apartments of Cliff Bradshaw (stage right) and Herr Schultz (stage left).
One of the main drive wheels. All of the cables came up from beneath the stage, wrapped around, and then attached to this wheel.
The wheel itself was made of sever different sized layers of MDF, when stacked together, made sheaves for the steel cable. The length was adjusted first by adding / subtracting chain at each drive wheel (shown here).
The entire unit was powered by a Hudson Digital Winch Unit (bottom), while the tension of the overall system was kept by an adjustable pulley that moved vertically via two long bolts (top).
The above deck pulley systems for each side of the stage consisted of factory ready made pulleys as well as some with fabricated housings that I created.
It was important for one of the above deck systems to cross over itself. This allows the two platforms to rotate in opposition, rather than in the same direction.
